Canada abstained from another United Nations vote Friday aimed at formally recognizing Palestine, while opening the door to supporting statehood before the end of the current conflict.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it鈥檚 part of Canada鈥檚 efforts to stop the Israeli government from blocking an eventual Palestinian state.
鈥淥ur long-standing position (was) that you could only recognize the State of Palestine as an outcome at the end of a process leading to a two-state solution,鈥� he told reporters in West Kelowna, B.C.
鈥淲e now recognize that it may happen sooner than at the end of the process, as a way of pushing toward that two-state solution.鈥�
The UN General Assembly voted by a wide margin Friday morning to grant the Palestinian delegation more procedural rights in UN forums, and ask the Security Council to reconsider blocking Palestine from full status as a member state.
Canada was among 25 countries to abstain, and Trudeau said this is a deliberate change from Canada鈥檚 stance of voting against most motions that target Israel. Ottawa has previously deemed these to be one-sided motions that hinder peace talks.
鈥淭he Israeli government under Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu has unacceptably closed the door on any path toward a two-state solution and we disagree with that fundamentally,鈥� Trudeau said, in explaining his rationale.
He reiterated positions Canada has taken for months on the conflict, including the need for Hamas to surrender its hostages and stop fighting, and for Israel to stop limiting humanitarian aid due to 鈥渇amine conditions that are quickly developing and the horrific loss of life.鈥�
In a statement, Global Affairs Canada wrote that it will recognize the State of Palestine 鈥渁t the time most conducive to lasting peace,鈥� adding that this isn鈥檛 necessarily after a final peace accord with Israel, and that peace talks 鈥渃annot delay the creation of a Palestinian state.鈥�
The Palestinian delegation in Ottawa wrote in a press release that the shift is 鈥渁 positive step forward鈥� but argued a full recognition would better reflect Canada鈥檚 aspirations for peace in the region. Israel鈥檚 ambassador in Ottawa argued that full UN membership for Palestine would reward Hamas.
Canada has also joined the European Union in condemning two arson attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied area of eastern Jerusalem on the local building used by UNRWA, a UN agency supporting Palestinians.
Israel has accused UNRWA of links to terrorism, which led Western countries to suspend or freeze funding, though an independent probe found Israel had not provided evidence for its claims. The statement notes 鈥渢he services UNRWA provides in Gaza and across the region are essential,鈥� and it calls on Israel to ensure the safety of UN staff and premises.
Despite that concern, Canada has yet to follow through on a promise three months ago to sanction violent West Bank settlers, a move taken by the U.S. and the U.K. months ago.
Instead, Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly applied sanctions to four men in Iran whom Ottawa accused of providing military training and resources to help bolster Hamas. Those listed are members of the militant group, or of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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